Donald Trump’s alleged golfing prowess has often been a topic of fierce debate after the U.S. President claimed to have played off a handicap as low as 2.8
09:03 ET, 03 Aug 2025Updated 09:04 ET, 03 Aug 2025
Donald Trump claims to have played off a 2.8 golf handicap(Image: Getty Images)
Donald Trump’s alleged handicap with the USGA has once again come under question following the President’s latest golf outing and tournament.
On Saturday, Trump reportedly shot a 69 in the 2025 Men’s Senior Club Championship en route to securing a dominant victory at his course in Bedminster, New Jersey. Several days prior, the 79-year-old returned from his five-day “private trip” to Scotland, during which he stopped by two of his golf courses in Turnberry and Aberdeenshire.
Over the years, Trump has never shied away from boasting about his accomplishments on the greens and fairways. At times, he’s claimed to have played off a handicap as low as 2.8 — a bold declaration that’s been partially backed up by Paul Elvin, founder of The London Golf Performance Academy.
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“From the right tees, I believe he’s a 2.8 handicap,” Elvin told the Independent’s Harry Latham-Coyle. “On PGA Tour-length courses with tough pin placements, I don’t believe he would be able to shoot better than an 80.
“But most courses are shorter and more approachable — I believe he can play to that handicap or better around these types of venues.”
Despite the heavy load of responsibilities that come with his role, Trump has consistently carved out time for golf. Since resuming office on January 20, he’s spent nearly a quarter of his presidency on the course.
Despite sporting what some might call an unconventional swing, it’s one that’s reliable and delivers consistent results.
“He rotates fantastically well through impact and generates great power in transition,” Elvin noted.
Donald Trump recently visited several of his courses in Scotland(Image: Getty Images)
“It might look unusual on the eye because his backswing is flatter than the professionals you will see on TV, but he re-routes back onto plane in the downswing and rotates well with a stable release. Considering his age, it’s a very good golf swing.”
While no one can deny Trump’s deep-seated passion for golf, his conduct and ethics on the course have been called into question more than once.
Last month, Trump sunk a putt at Turnberry but chose not to retrieve his ball from the hole. As he strolled off the green, his caddie quickly dashed over to retrieve the ball, moments after his attempt to celebrate with the U.S. President was overlooked.
The following day, Trump faced another wave of criticism when a video surfaced appearing to show a caddie dropping a new ball for him at a more favorable lie.
Trump’s golfing pastime is additionally hitting taxpayers’ wallets hard. Just this month, Americans bristled at the news that $600,000 would go towards Secret Service golf cart rentals and portable restrooms at Trump’s Bedminster course.
HuffPost’s crunching of numbers reveals that Trump’s jaunts to Turnberry and his Aberdeen links racked up a projected $9.7 million tab.
